Assist Ethiopian Jews Bridge Socio-Economic Gaps

                                                                                                               October 2011

Dear Supporters of the Ariela Foundation,

As always, we are extremely grateful and appreciative of your donations to the Star Program which now operates in two municipalities (Ness Tziona & Tel Aviv – Jaffa) where it is changing the lives of three groups of middle school and high school students of Ethiopian origin. We are very happy to announce that a fourth Star Program group is expected to begin activities in the municipality of Gedera in November. Through your donations, you are helping to improve the lives of dozens of young Ethiopian Jews that will become role models for their community.

Throughout the third quarter of 2011, Ariela continued to deliver dozens of different activities within the framework of the Star Program including weekly field orienteering workshops, weekly small group tutorial lessons, weekly self-empowerment workshops, weekly psycho-drama workshops, weekly Capoeira lessons, parenting workshops, light meals for participants, dozens of one on one tutoring/mentoring sessions, overnight fieldtrips, enrichment activities, guest volunteer lectures regarding life skills, material assistance for educational supplies and giving back to the community activities.

We would also like to share a quote from a program participant that tells the whole story:

One participant from Ness Tziona said, "Ariela for me means "You can also do it," we are told that if there is will and motivation, you can succeed. We learn a lot of new things about life; we meet new and different people. We receive assistance in our studies; I have never invested as much effort in my studies as I do now. In addition, Ariela is fun with enjoyable activities. Since joining Ariela, my attitude towards studying and people has changed. I respect others, learnt team work, cooperation, my self-confidence has increased…I've learnt to be honest with others, to help others, how to be a leader and to lead."

Attached you will also find some pictures which we hope will illustrate some of the activities and great results we are achieving thanks to your kind help.

Links:

• Ariela Website
• Ariela on Facebook
• Ariela on YouTube

                                                                                                                      July 2011

Dear Supporters of the Ariela Foundation,

As always, we are extremely grateful and appreciative of your donations to the Star Program which now operates in two municipalities (Ness Tziona & Tel Aviv – Jaffa) with three groups of middle school and high school students
of Ethiopian origin. You are helping through this program to change and improve the lives of dozens of young Ethiopian Jews that will become role models for their community.

Throughout the 2^nd quarter of 2011, Ariela continued to deliver dozens of activities within the framework of the Star Program. Some of the activities delivered included weekly field orienteering workshops, weekly small group tutorial lessons, weekly self-empowerment workshops, weekly psycho-drama workshops, weekly Capoeira lessons, parenting workshops, light meals for participants, dozens of one on one tutoring/mentoring sessions, overnight
field trips, enrichment activities, guest volunteer lectures regarding life skills, material assistance for educational supplies and more.

We would also like to share some comments from program participants that speak for themselves:

One participant talked about a dedicated volunteer that meets with him on a weekly basis, “Yaron is not just a teacher of mathematics or English, he is a teacher of life. He teaches me about life and guides me in the right direction. I can’t describe in words the year I have had with him and I am now sure that I can succeed in life with his assistance.”

Another participant was asked to talk about what had changed since he began participating in the Star Program, “My attitude towards studies and people has changed. My will power, persistence, motivation and consideration of others have all increased. I know that a lot of this is due to the Ariela activities.”

One participant talked about her participation in after school math tutorials, “The math tutorials have helped me in school. I wasn’t good in mathematics and did not like the subject, but now that I understand more, I am improving. If I do not understand something in math class at school, I can now understand through the tutorial lessons.”

Another participant talked about her experiences at the self-empowerment workshop, “I learned to cooperate with others and not to be so shy...I learned a lot from all of these activities.”

“My participation in Star Program activities stops me from wandering on the streets after school ends. Now I finish school and continue directly to the Star Program activities,” said another participant.

Attached you will also find some pictures which we hope will illustrate some of the activities and great results we are achieving thanks to your kind help.

Sincerely and humbly,

Eric Goldberg - Head of the Board of Directors

Ariela Foundation

Links:

• Like us on Facebook
• Ariela on YouTube
• Ariela Website